Gonda (UP): Vinesh Phogat capped a highly successful season by grabbing the 57kg title while Sakshi Malik ended a terrible year by emerging champion in the 62kg at the Tata Motors Senior National Championship, here.
Vinesh has already stamped her class at the international level by winning the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games titles and it was just about getting some match competition under her belt after missing the Worlds due to an elbow injury. On way to her sixth National title, Vinesh conceded just two points in five bouts. She had earlier won five Nationals in a row from 2012 to 2016 in different categories.
Vinesh, who won a gold each in the CWG and the Asian Games in 50kg, had prepared herself for the higher weight category with intense sessions with heavier sparring partners on Friday evening. “I could compete as I wanted. I wanted some competitive matches before the next season. Also, I felt no pain in the entire campaign, that’s a big gain personally since I was competing in a higher category,” said Vinesh, who had suffered a ligament and muscle tear in her elbow before the Budapest Worlds.
“I started doing practice only 15 days back, so my rehabilitation has worked nicely.” Vinesh won with ease but said the standard was not that bad during the competition. “The first girl (Neetu) was very powerful and I lost two points due to my mistake. Two other girls were good but I am more experienced than them and that definitely helped. The more they train with seniors at the camp, the better they will get,” she said.
Vinesh secured the title by taking the score to 10-0, with more than two-and-a-half minutes left. Pride at stake in the 62kg, Sakshi did a world of good to her confidence by winning the title without losing a single point. After a horrendous run in the season, which began after the high of Rio Olympics, it was the first good result for Sakshi, though the standard of competition was not great. Out of five bouts, she got a walkover in the first round and final bout ended in just 25 seconds as Anita conceded it due to a left knee injury.
“This is not something big but I will take it. There was not much competition because most of the rivals were juniors but any competition is good. I am more focused on next season and will start with Asian Championship,” said Sakshi.